By way of Will Stewart and Elena Salvoni and Gerard Couzens
19:16 19 Feb 2024, up to date 20:22 19 Feb 2024
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Captain Maksim Kuzminov, 28, fled Russia with the assistance of Ukrainian intelligenceIt comes after Spanish police stated a Ukrainian guy, 33, have been shot final weekA ‘hero’ Russian army pilot who flew his Mi-8 helicopter over the frontline to defect to Ukraine has discovered lifeless in Spain amid stories in Moscow that his frame used to be ‘riddled with bullets’.Captain Maksim Kuzminov, 28, fled Russia with the assistance of Ukrainian intelligence services and products and accused Vladimir Putin of ‘genocide’ following his bold break out final summer season.Ukrainian GUR army intelligence showed lately that the pilot – a identified goal of Russian loss of life squads – had died in Spain, however gave no additional information about the instances surrounding his loss of life.It comes after Spanish government stated a Ukrainian guy elderly 33 have been shot lifeless inside of a storage in Villajoyosa, close to Alicante, on Tuesday afternoon.Assets just about the inquiry stated the person had gained just about a dozen gunshot wounds. A burnt-out automobile believed to were related to the taking pictures used to be due to this fact discovered within sight. Nearly every week later, a surprising flurry of news from state and pro-Putin media in Russia have strongly prompt that Kuzminov used to be the sufferer within the Spanish taking pictures.Responding to the stories, investigators in Spain stated lately that they’re taking a look into whether or not the sufferer, who has now not been named, can have been the use of a false id. 
Captain Maksim Kuzminov, 28, fled Russia with the assistance of Ukrainian intelligence services and products Spanish government stated a Ukrainian guy elderly 33 have been shot lifeless inside of a storage in Villajoyosa, close to Alicante, on Tuesday afternoon The Russian army pilot flew his Mi-8 helicopter over the frontline to defect to Ukraine A Civil Guard spokesman stated lately: ‘On Tuesday final week a person seemed lifeless in Villajoyosa with a number of gunshot wounds.’For the duration of the investigation this is being performed, it’s been realized that the id that particular person used to be the use of might be false and belong to someone else.’The Civil Guard remains to be seeking to verify this.’There were claims in Russia that Kuzminov, labelled a traitor in his hometown, had saved involved with folks from his former existence, which can have led the Russians to him.State information company TASS reported: ‘Maxim Kuzminov, a pilot who hijacked a Russian army helicopter in 2023, has reportedly been discovered lifeless in Spain, quite a few Spanish army retailers stated.’Every other Kremlin-obedient outlet Mash stated there have been stories that ‘the frame of Maxim Kuzminov used to be noticed through a neighborhood resident on February 13 – it used to be riddled with bullets.’The opening additionally claimed the defector had ‘behaved inappropriately, shouted and continuously chattered drunkenly about his previous and provide existence.’Professional-Putin outlet Shot reported: ‘Pilot Maxim Kuzminov, who hijacked a Russian army helicopter, used to be discovered lifeless in Spain. They shot him 12 instances after which ran over him in a automobile.’It later amended its tale to mention he used to be ‘allegedly discovered lifeless’.Russian media channels have additionally piled blame on Ukraine for the defector’s loss of life, with out offering proof.TASS alleged that ‘Ukrainian intelligence businesses can have eradicated [Kuzimov] as an inconvenient witness’.In October, quickly after his dramatic defection, there have been public loss of life threats towards Kuzminov in Russia, with ideas that Putin’s secret services and products would to find and kill him for an final betrayal.Nameless Spetsnaz particular forces officials from Russia’s GRU army intelligence carrier have been final yr proven on Moscow state TV making transparent an ‘order’ have been given to liquidate Kuzminov. Kuzminov’s spouse and circle of relatives have been believed to were taken out of Russia ahead of he defected State-run Rossiya 1 channel’s Vesti Nedeli channel instructed audience in a chilling broadcast: ‘The order [to kill Captain Kuzminov] used to be gained, its execution is an issue of time.’One Spetsnaz officer stated: ‘We’re going to to find the person and punish him for betraying his brothers to the fullest extent of our nation’s regulation.’A 2d officer stated: ‘He’s going to now not reside…’Kuzminov’s spouse and circle of relatives have been believed to were taken out of Russia ahead of he defected. It used to be now not identified why he used to be in Spain.After his defection, the pilot riled the Kremlin through urging different Russians to practice his instance and defect to Ukraine.He used to be additionally accused of being answerable for the loss of life of 2 group participants who died when he defected. There were claims in Russia that Kuzminov, labelled a traitor in his hometown, had saved involved with folks from his former existence (pictured together with his mom Inna Kuzminova) After defecting, Kuzminov turned into a propaganda trophy for Ukraine.He mentioned there have been no Nazis in Ukraine – a standard Putin statement – and accused the dictator of ‘genocide’ of each Ukrainians and Russians through undertaking the warfare.In a documentary on his audacious flight and give up, he stated: ‘I realised I used to be close to the border.’So I gave my location, stated let’s give it a shot… I had made my ultimate choice… I flew at extraordinarily low altitude in radio silent mode.…’He stated: ‘[I defected because] I’m very indignant through what is occurring now.’Homicide, tears, blood. Simply folks killing each and every different…’What is occurring now’s simply genocide of the Ukrainian folks, each Ukrainian and Russian.’The foundation of my motion isn’t to give a contribution to those crimes.’In an interview broadcast through Ukraine’s government, Kuzimov stated: ‘I contacted representatives of Ukrainian intelligence, defined my scenario, to which they presented this selection “Come on, we ensure your protection, ensure new paperwork, ensure financial repayment, a praise”.’ He used to be reportedly promised £400,000 to defect to Ukraine with Russian army apparatus.
